924Board.org

Rprimm · Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Virginia

I posted before in the wrong section and I got some help but I still can't seem to get it running so I guess I'm going to repost here.

So I bought a 1981 924 (Not the turbo) a couple of months ago and I'm having a little trouble starting it, so I just wanted to see if anyone has any ideas or tips for me. Here's where I'm at now:

I bought it knowing the fuel pumps were bad, so I drained the fuel tank, replaced them both, and put a couple gallons of fresh gas in it. Along with that I have replaced the air filter, fuel filter, and spark plugs. I cleaned the fuel injectors and tested them by hooking them to the fuel lines and spraying them into a cup so I could see if they were spraying. They all sprayed an even amount of gas. I also tested each spark plug wire and they all produce spark. I really have no idea why it won't do anything. The only thing that occasionally happens is I will hear a pop/tick and the throttle body and air boots will have smoke all through out them.

I guess the first thing I need to make sure is that I have the wires on the distributor placed properly, I'm pretty sure I do, but I'm not positive that I'm using the right mark as the timing mark to find TDC. Does anyone know what it looks like on my car? I was assuming it's the triangle below the Volkswagen and Audi symbols on the windshield side of the gear.

Please help if you can, I wanna hear this thing run! Thanks

jsl240z · Joined: 17 Jun 2014 Posts: 18 Location: Carmichael, CA

It definitely sounds like your timing is off. I would first check your plug wires are all in the right place, after making sure this is correct I would rotate the engine until cylinder #1 is at TDC on it's compression stroke. Then pull off the distributor cap and make sure the rotor is facing towards cylinder #1. If not you will need to pull and re-index the distributor so that it faces the correct direction. If this does not work check fuel pressure.

Rprimm · Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Virginia

How do I tell that cylinder 1 is at TDC? I took the spark plug out and stuck a screwdriver in there to feel for the cylinder while my brother turned the engine over but I couldn't feel it. How far does it need to be in there I had like a four or five inch screwdriver.

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

The crank pulley has a notch that lines up with a pointer on the oil pump. The whole "dowel in the spark plug hole" technique is fraught with problems and should never be used, IMO.
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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

Rprimm · Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Virginia

I found a picture of one on google, I'll see if I can find it on mine, I couldn't find it before

Fasteddie313 · Joined: 29 Sep 2013 Posts: 2595 Location: MI

Rprimm · Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Virginia

kcoyle · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 712 Location: Long Island, NY

Cam pulley. Dot and pointer should line up.

Crank pulley. dot/cut and pointer should line up.

Distributor. Note the impeceptible to the human eye (mine anyway) line/cut on the distributor body. The rotor should line up to this.

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1982 931- Stock with MBC at 8psi

Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.

Rprimm · Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Virginia

Rprimm · Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Virginia

Alright, turns out the crank and cam pulleys weren't in sync, so I fixed that and it fired up instantly but bogged out after 2 or 3 seconds. Then I tried to start it again and it ran for 1 second. then I tried again and it wouldn't do anything. I let it sit for maybe 10 minutes and tried again and the same thing happened, It ran for 2 or 3 seconds the first try, then got progressively harder to get it to started after that. It will start every time with starting fluid but will only stay running for about 1-2 seconds before it bogs down. The spark plugs have dry black soot on them, so I think that means the mixture is too rich, right? Is it possible that the mixture could be the only reason it isn't starting now? Anybody have any thoughts or ideas?

Also, I tried adjusting the mixture screw but could barely move it, is it normal for them to be extremely tight? I could only turn it with vise grips clamped on the allen wrench

Paul · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:21 pm Post subject:

Leave the mixture screw alone for now.

Check ignition timing.
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White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

Rprimm · Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Virginia

Ozzie · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:06 am Post subject:

sounds like it is starting on the CSV then dying.

If you bypass the fuel pump relay there should be no flow from the injectors.
if there is, it is too rich and turning the mixture screw left will lean it out.

Turning it right until they start to spray then backing off should give you a start point. After that you will need a gas tester.

Fuel Flow tests and pressure checks are also a must.
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Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

kcoyle · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 712 Location: Long Island, NY

1. Grab a bunch of your favorite beer.
2. Grab a haynes manual and read while you...
3. Check for vacuum leaks (replace the common vacuum hoses,elbows, check for loose clamps)
4. Read even more on Bosch k-jetronic fuel injection. (zzzzzzz)
5. Get a CIS tester to check fuel pressures.

Good times!

_________________
1982 931- Stock with MBC at 8psi

Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.

Rprimm · Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Virginia

So I adjusted the distributor a little and then it ran for 30 seconds and cut off. I couldn't get it to start at all after that. Then I remembered that I had broke my new fuel pump relay that I replaced a while ago, so the old one was what I using then. So I ordered a new one and put it in and after adjusting the idle screw a bit it will idle until I cut it off now! I'm going to get a longer allen wrench so I can adjust the fuel mixture right now.

I think you are right Ozzie, when I bypassed the relay it did fire a little, plus there is a little white smoke coming out of the exhaust now, and I can't give it any gas without it cutting off, so I think the mixture is too rich.

Has anyone had any problems adjusting the mixture screw before? I was turning a wrench with vise grips and couldn't get it to move. Of course I didn't try as hard as a could because I didn't want to break anything, but still I wouldn't think it would be that hard to turn.

Thanks for all the help everyone, I can't wait to get this thing road ready!